Abstract [en]

Health literacy is the patient's cognitive ability to understand and apply health information. According to Henderson's nursing theory the nurse should understand and assist the patient who does not have sufficient motivation, knowledge or strength to independently achieve health. The aim of this study was to identify the district nurses' attitude to health literacy in their treatment of patients at a medical centre. The study was a qualitative interview study with an inductive approach. Five district nurses from three medical centres were interviewed using an interview guide based on semi-structured questions. A qualitative content analysis was performed and revealed the following theme; the district nurse encouraged patient participation through an approachable and committed approach to health literacy. Three categories were identified; strive for trust, adapt to the patient and encourage empowerment. The district nurses described that they strived to create insight and motivation to encourage them to participate in their own health care. None of the district nurses in this pilot study were familiar with the term health literacy. Despite this, they described that they understood that their patients had differing abilities in understanding and applying information. This pilot study offers a basis for a full-scale study of district nurses application of health literacy, customized to Swedish health care system.